Sleep in a railway car and help save this historic Czech mountain station

A historic railway station in Czechia’s Ore Mountains could partially reopen to the public in 2027, financed by travelers sleeping in converted railway cars beside its tracks.

At Kovářská, in the Chomutov district, four retired cars have become self-contained holiday apartments. A restored railway guard’s cottage offers another place to stay, turning the station into an unusual base for a mountain getaway.

The accommodation is already operating, while work continues on the main station building. Co-owner Štěpán Macháček told Czech News Agency that demand is strong enough for weekends to be booked a year ahead—a reason to plan well in advance.

The Macháček family bought the deteriorating station from the state in 2014, rescuing the nearly 150-year-old building from demolition.

The railway cars initially served a practical purpose: providing somewhere to sleep while the owners and their helpers repaired the station. Renting them out between work sessions then created a source of income for the restoration.

All four have welcomed guests since 2023. Each accommodates up to three adults or two adults and two children. The guard’s cottage, known in Czech as a vechtrovna, was restored in 2025 and provides additional accommodation.

According to the Vagony na horách website, the insulated cars have equipped kitchens, compact bathrooms with hot showers and flushing toilets, panoramic windows and wood-burning stoves. They stand at approximately 850 meters above sea level, surrounded by woodland.

That makes the experience closer to a small countryside apartment than a night in a conventional sleeper carriage. Guests stay in stationary cars, with the railway setting forming part of the appeal.

The owners’ published rates range from CZK 2,900 to CZK 3,400 per night for an entire car, with a minimum two-night stay. Holiday periods have separate packages, and prices for individual dates appear in the booking calendar. The accommodation routinely sells out months in advance.

Macháček said the owners finance the restoration themselves, without applying for subsidies. Accommodation income supports the next stage: completing the entrance hall, a station-history exhibition and the former station office.

Plans also include public toilets, a gallery for temporary exhibitions and facilities for guests and events. The hoped-for partial opening next year remains a goal, rather than a confirmed opening date.

The station offers a starting point for exploring the Krušné hory, or Ore Mountains, beyond their better-known ski resorts.

Nearby Klínovec has marked routes for walking and cycling. Its official visitor website describes a network of 73 kilometers of routes for walkers, cyclists and scooter riders, offering possibilities for a day outside before returning to the railway cars. Check current conditions and seasonal lift operations when planning a visit.

Kovářská itself has a distinctive historical attraction: the Museum of the Air Battle over the Ore Mountains. It commemorates the airmen who fought and died in the Sept. 11, 1944, battle over Czechoslovakia and Germany.

Exhibits include aircraft wreckage, photographs, documents, uniforms and dioramas. The museum was opened in 1997 by American and German veterans of the battle. Its visitor information page currently lists Saturday opening from 2 to 6 p.m., with group visits possible by arrangement.

Arriving by train can add another layer to the trip. Seasonal tourist services stop at Kovářská, and typically operate from Easter into November. Visitors should check connections for their exact dates rather than assume daily trains.

The main station building is still undergoing restoration. Visitors are sometimes shown around when someone is working on site, but regular public access is not yet established.

For now, the overnight stay is the attraction visitors can plan around. Check availability through the accommodation website first, then coordinate transport and nearby outings: the money spent on a mountain weekend is also helping bring the old station back into use.